Corn snapping and husking rolls



June 30, 1953 R. c. FERGAsoN CORN SNAPPING AND HUSKING ROLLS original Filed June 15, 1942 Patented June 30, 1953 CGRN SNAPPING AND HUSKING AROLLS Rector C. Fergason,

La, Porte, Ind.,y assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original application Ju 447,025. Divided and 12, 1948, Serial N o. 1,87

Claims.

of oppositely rotating cooperative rolls are pro- I vided, such rolls having forward picking or snapping sections and rearwardly disposed husking sections, with the picking and husking sections of the rolls disposed in axial alinement with each other and assembled on a common support, such as a rotatable shaft which serves to impart the desired rotation to the roll. Cooperative rolls of this general type, including a forward picker or snapper section, and a rearwardly disposed husking section, nd considerable utility in light weight corn harvesters, especially such as are of the tractor-mounted, underslung type, such as is disclosed in applicants copending application vSerial Number 447,025, led June 15, 1942, now abandoned, of which the present application is a division.

In the operation lof harvester rolls of this general character, trash, particularly vin the form of leaves and loose outer husks removed during the snapping 'of the corn 'from the stalks, is likely to be carried along rearwardly of the snapping sections of the roll and over the cooperative husking sections thereof, where such trash impedes or interferes with the efficient operation of the husking sections in removing husks from the snapped ears' In prior art types of husking rolls, whether it be where the husking rolls are mounted Aseparate from snapping or picking rolls or are mounted `as rearwardly disposed sections of ycombined picking and husking rolls, diflioulties of varying degrees are encountered in having such husking rolls or sections effectively remove the husks from the snapped ears, to the end that the removed husks may be effectively separated from the husked ears and the latter may -be in clean condition. Different materials and different surface formations or 'contours of the cooperative husking rol-ls or sections, and diiie'rent forms of auxiliary husking pins have heretofore been associated with surface portions of one or both vof the 'cooperative husking rolls Yor sections, with the aim to improve the action oi the rolls in eiiectively removing the husks from the ears and disposing of the removed husks. However, 'these ne 15, 1942, Serial No. this application January 9 expedients of the prior art, while possessed ,of advantages over earlier types of husking rolls. leave much to be desired in the matter of inost efficient operation of the rolls as to removal oi husks from the ears to produce cleanly husked ears, and to effective disposal of the removed husks Yso as to prevent their being carried along with the husked ears to a collecting 'receptacle for the latter.

The present invention, in one aspect thereof, contemplates and is concerned with the provision of oppositely rotatable, cooperative harvesting rolls suitably mounted in operative position and comprising iorwar'd picking or snapping sections and rearwardly disposed husking sections, along with suitable provisions for enabling or facilitating the discharge of trash,l in the form of leaves and loose husks removed during vthe snapping operation, downwardly through the rolls, so as to vprevent such trash from reaching the husking sections of the rolls and impeding most eiiective husking 'operation by the latter, and likewise insuring that such trash is not carried along with the husked ears to a collecting Y receptacle for the latter.

In a preferred embodiment of this feature of the invention, wherein the cooperative harvesting rolls each includes a forward snapping' or picking section and a rearwardly disposed husking section, desirable results in the matter of removing such loose trash before the latter reaches the husking sections of the rolls are attained Vthrough the 'provision of a special roll section on each roll intermediate the snapping and hu'sking sections thereof, such special roll sections being of such form and cooperating in such manner as to seize and pull through the rolls to the underneath side thereof any loose leaves orother trash at the upper side of the rolls resulting from the snapping operation, before such trash passes onto the husking roll sections. And the roils may be provided with a correspondingly formed trash removing section rearwardly of the husking section to facilitate the passage downwardly through .the rolls of .any loose husks or the ,like that may remain at the upper side of the rear end portion 'of the rolls, thus preventing such loose husks from being dicharged from the husking sections along with the husked ears.

In another aspect, the present invention `contemplates and is concerned with the provision of husk-ing rolls or 'roll sections of such improved form and design las to material and contour of the cooperative portions of the rolls and auxiliary husking elements associated with one or both of the rolls, as will permit the latter to be set close together during normal operation wherein the rolls rotate in opposite directions, to insure loosening and most eiective seizing of the husks and drawing of the latter downwardly through the rolls. In a preferred embodiment of this latter feature of the invention, particularly desirable results are attained in connection with such rolls through utilizing a roll having a yielding surface or facing of rubber, or like resiliently yielding material, in cooperation with a corresponding roll having a relatively smooth metal surface or facing, normal setting or mounting of the cooperative rolls being such that the surface portions thereof are in practical contact with each other at their inner adjacent surfaces during operation, and providing one of the rolls, preferably the metal faced roll, with husking elements or pegs normally projecting beyond the periphery of the roll and retractable to positions within or at the surface of the roll through the action of pressure exerted on the husking pegs by the other roll during operation, thus permitting the husking pegs to bite into and loosen the outer husks on the ears while permitting the rolls to rotate with their adjacent surfaces in practical contact, whereby the loosened husks are seized between the rolls and are thereby drawn downwardly through and discharged beneath the rolls, leaving the husked ears at the upper side of the rolls. And the design of the husking pegs and their mounted relation to the roll are such as to provide a very simple and effective form of husking peg which is readily and simply mounted in and removable from operative position.

vIt is an object of this invention to provide an improved and novel design and construction of harvesting rolls embodying axially alined snapping and huslring sections with an intermediate trash-removing section between the snapping and husking sections of the rolls, either with or without trash removing sections disposed to the rear of the husking sections.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved and novel design and construction of cooperative husking rolls or roll sections wherein the rolls or roll sections are disposed in practical side abutting relation and wherein one of said roll sections is provided with apertures and has one or more husking elements yieldingly mounted therein with each element presenting a huslring peg or point normally extending outwardly through an adjacent aperture to a point beyond the surface of the roll and being retractable during normal operation of the rolls, through surface engagement of the other roll on such husking points, to permit the adjacent surface portions of the rolls to pass one anotherin substantial engagement therewith.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a husking roll or roll section embodying one or more husking elements of improved design and construction, with each husking element having a husking point or peg and a resiliently yieldable support therefor, the husking element being readily insertable to position within a recess in said roll and serving to retain the husking peg normally projecting beyond the periphery of the roll and being yieldingly supported for swinging movement about a point spaced circumferentially from the peg portion thereof and being thus readily retractable within said recess through surface contact with an opposed roll section.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved mounting and spacing construction for cooperative harvesting rolls which includes a biasing means permitting forward portions of the rolls to move apart as stalks and other material pass therebetween and which avoids subjecting relatively movable bearing parts and/or opposed stalk gripping flutes or ribs to the frequent' impact engagement and damage normally resulting from action of the biasing means tending to snap the rolls together when cleared of such material. And this aspect of the present invention is also concerned with and contemplates the provision of means which accurately determines minimum spacing of the rolls, which prevents bearing wear from affecting roll spacing, and which affords a simplified and inexpensive construction.

The above and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment thereof, and will be more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental sectional view, in a transverse plane of a corn harvester, embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, in the plane of the line -II--II of Fig. l with certain parts omitted in the interest of simplicity;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views in the planes of the lines III-III, IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a detail concerned with the husking pegs mounted in the huslring roll sections, as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the forward portion of the rubber covered roll section shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, in the plane of the line `Htl-IX of Fig. 2, modied to include a spacer between the bearing housings; and

Fig. l0 is an enlarged sectional view of the spacer shown in Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a corn harvester of the two-row type, adapted for mounting on a farm tractor, includes a harvester frame comprising a pair of inner frame bars 23, preferably of tubular form. as indicated in Fig. l, adapted to extend longitudinally of the harvester and of a tractor on which the harvester may be mounted, with these bars one at each side of the center line of the tractor and harvester and spaced apart sufficiently that one of the bars will lie at each side of the tractor frame when the harvester is mounted thereon. These bars 23 are connected in spaced relation through suitable cross connecting bars, one of these latter bars being indicated at 2S, such bar serving to connect the longitudinal frame bars 23 toward their forward end and the forward end of the harvester rolls. Longitudinally extending frame bars 2l, preferably of tubular form, and constituting portions of the harvester frame, are disposed laterally outside of the bars 23 and with their main portion in substantially the same horizontal plane as the bars 23, and they extend forwardly to appoint adjacent the cross bar 26.

The bars 2 are secured in desired assembled relation with respect to the bars 23 by suitable cross connections; directly or through connecting' brackets, one of such cross connections including brackets 32 between the bar 21 and the adjacent longitudinal frame bar 23, this bracket being rigidly connected to the bar 23, directly or through indirect llet connection, and to bearing supports 34 detachably connected to the brackets 32 and to the forward end portion, or an extension thereof, ofthe adjacent bar 21.

A harvester ear snapping and husking unit is mounted on each side of the frame structure just described and comprises, as shown more particularly in Fig. A2, a pair of oppositely rotatable cooperative rolls, the outer roll being indicated generally at |56 and the inner roll at |51. Each pair of rolls is rotatably supported in operative position through a pair of shafts having opposed journal portions at their rear ends disposed in bearings |58 whose housings are support-'- ed in relatively fixed position in a bearing supporting plate 38 carried by a rear portion of the frame structure (not shown), and having op posed journal portions at an intermediate point disposed in bearings |59 mounted in the forward bearing support 34. The axis of the outer roll is substantially higher than the axis of the inner roll, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9.

The outer roll |56 is built up of sections rigidly secured, as by pins |60, on a shaft |6|. The forward or snapping element of the roll includes a relatively pointed forward end section |62 extending forwardly beyond the shaft |6| and being of decreasing and disappearing taper toward the rear end thereof. This forward portion of the snapping section is provided with suitably arranged external ribs |63. A rear portion |64 of the snapping section is secured on the shaft immediately adjacent the forward portion |62, the 'exterior of this portion |64 being provided with external longitudinal ribs |65, preferably four in number, extending to a point adjacent the rear end. The angular position of the portions |62 and |64 on the shaft is such that the rear ends of ribs |63 of section |62 are in longitudinal alinement with the longitudinal ribs |65 of section |64. The ribs on each section |64 merge at their rear ends with a plain cylindrical outer surface |66 having an external diameter at least equal to the external diameter of the ribbed portion merging therewith. The external diameter of these cylindrical portions is also at least equal to the external diameter of the opposed bearing housings mounted in forward bearin'g support 34.

Rearwardly of and spaced from the roll portion |64 is a trash roll section |61 secured to the shaft and provided with longitudinal ribs |68, preferably of considerably greater number than the ribs |65 of section |64, and extending from the forward end of this section to a point adjacent the rear end thereof where the latter is of reduced diameter to provide a shouldered extension |69.

The husking roll section l|12 of the roll |56 is in the form of a Acylindrical tube of rubber or the like providing a resiliently yielding and generally smooth husking surface and secured on a cylindrical metal tube |13, the assembled tube and rubber roll section being secured in position with respect to the shaft |6| by pins |14 driven through apertures in the roll section and in the shouldered extensions |69 of the roll section |61 'and in the same manner in opp'ositely shouldered extensions lat the forward end of a trash roll section 16. The inner ends of pins |14 are cupped or recessed (note Fig. 8) and when driven into position, the cupped inner end engages the shaft and expands in the space between the shaft and an undercut wall of the sections |61, |16, respectively, to lock the pin against withdrawal while these roll sections are on the shaft. The roll section |16 is also secured to shaft |6| by a pin |66 and is provided with longitudinal ribs |18, generally similar in character and number to the ribs |68 on the roll section |61. The rear end of the roll section |16 is undercut and receives the forward end of thehousi'ng for the shaft bearing |58 carried by supporting plate 38. A spur gear |19 is rigidly secured in position on the rear end of the shaft |6| in such a manner with respect to the bearing support that the roll shaft is held in denite position against appreciable longitudinal movement relative to thebe'aring support. The gear |19 is in driven relation with the spur gear |80 on the shaft |6| of the harvester roll |51.

Each pair of rolls is driven through a suitable connection between the rear end of shaft |81 and a power source (not shown), this shaft bei ing rotated in a counterclockwise direction, viewed from the rear thereof; and, through the gear connection |89, |1942 the other harvester roll is driven in an opposite direction.

The harvester roll |51 is of sectional construe'- tion and is mounted on its shaft |8|, with the forward snapping or picking section |62, |64 'of the same design and construction as the corresponding section l62, |64 of the roll |56. The trash roll section |82 is also similar to the correspond-ing section |61 of the roll |56, except for omission of the reduced extension |69 on the section |6l'. The husking roll section |83 of the roll |51 is in the form of a cylindrical relatively smooth metal tube telesc'oped on the rear' end of the forward trash section |82 and on the forward end of a rear trash section |84. Tube |83 is secured to trash sections |62 and |84 in any desired manner and the latter is generally similar to the trash section |16 of roll |56-, exe cept as to the omission of the reduced forward end extension V|15 on the roll section |16. -The undercut rear en d of the roll section |84 receives the forward end of the housing vfor the roll bear'- ing |58, this housing also being carried by supporting plate 3.8. The roll section |63 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures |86 for receiving yielding husking elementsv |81.

Each of these husking elements |81 comprises a resilient body portion insertable through the apertures |86 to position within the roll and of a length lsuch that, with the element in normal position, a huskingv point or peg `|9| at one end thereof projects through one aperture |86, and the other end of the element, which has a through aperture |92 therein, projects past the adjacent trailing edge of an oppositely disposed aperture |86 as best shown in Fig. 1. Each element |81 is held in normal position, .with the husking point |9| projecting through jan aperture |86', by a bracing leaf spring 93 having a curved central portion which generally conforms with and bears against the shaft, and one "end portion which bears against and presses the body portion of the element |81 against the inner surface 'of the roll. The other end of spring |93 is provided with a lshouldered portion |94 of reduced width; yieldingly extending through the aperture |92 in the adjacent end of husking element |81 andv the adjacent aperture |86 in the roll, thus -serv-Y ing, through engagement of this reduced 'end portion of the bracing spring against the adjacent edge of the aperture 186, to hold the husking element in operative position on the roll. The husking point 191 is formed on the element 161 by distorting the end of the spring element to form a hook-shaped point. rThe resiliently yielding body portion of the husking element 181 projects the husking points 191 to a position where they bite into the husks of the ears passing over the rolls and tear the husks and draw them downwardly into the space between the oppositely rotating rolls, the latter seizing the husks and drawing them through the rolls, the ears remaining on the upper side of the rolls. As the husking points 19| come into engagement with the husking roll section 112, they are yieldingly forced back into the apertures 186 as shown in Fig. 5.

The forward bearing support 34 carries the roll shaft bearings 159 on which rotate journal sleeves 195 suitably held in fixed position on the shafts 161 and 181, as by a spacing and retaining collar and key (not shown). Support 34 is provided with machined guiding surfaces on which the housings 196 for the roll bearings 159 are supported and maintained in position between the adjacent snapping roll and trash roll sections. The element 34 is also provided with a shoulder at its forward side against which corresponding shoulders on the bearing housings 196 may engage. The outer end of the support 34 is provided with a tubular projection 198 which houses a spring 201. This spring bears at its inner end against the outer bearing housing and at its outer end against an abutment carried at the inner end of an adjusting screw 202 threaded through a plate 203 tted into a recess 204 in the wall of the tubular housing 19B -and removable therefrom by lifting the plate with the adjusting screw therein outwardly from such recess. With the parts in position, the spring 201 urges the outer bearing into and yieldingly holds it at its innermost position (determined by the external diameter of cylindrical surfaces 166), with a predetermined pressure dependent upon the adjustment of the screw, so that the relative positions of the two harvesting rolls are such that the husking roll sections 112, 183 are in substantial contact, as indicated in Fig. and there is a slight clearance between the outer peripherie-s y of the trash roll sections 161, 182 and 116, 184, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, and between the rear portions of the snapping roll sections 164, as indicated in Fig. 3. However, in the event any relatively unyielding obstruction, such as an eX- tra heavy stalk or small stone should come between the rolls, the spring 201 will yield sufficiently to permit separation between the forward portions of the rolls to the required extent to permit the obstruction to pass through the rolls.

As previously indicated, the engagement of cylindrical surface portions 166 of snapping sections 164 determines the minimum spacing of the rolls. And when these surface portions are in engagement, it will be seen (note Fig. 2) that the bearing housings 196 are spaced apart thereby avoiding subjecting these relatively movable housings to frequent impact engagement normally resulting from a spreading of the rolls by the passage of material therebetween and from the action of spring 201 tending to snap the rolls together when cleared of such material. Moreover, since the external diameter of cylindrical portions 166 is such that there is a slight clearance between the stalk gripping surfaces aorded by the opposed ribs or flutes 165, this construction also prevents the damage to such surfaces or the edges thereof which inherently results from frequent impact engagement of the flutes or ribs, and although impact engagement of the stalk gripping flutes or ribs may be avoided by the use of spacers 191 disposed between bearing housings 196 (note Figs. 9 and 10), a spacer, even if constructed to include a slightly compressible plate 205 of fiber or other suitable material disposed between shims 209 as shown in Fig. 10, still subjects the bearing parts to considerable impact or hammering action. As a result, these bearing parts wear rapidly which in turn necessitates frequent replacement thereof and also frequent adjustment of the spacing of the rolls (this adjustment may be accomplished by adding shims) in order to compensate for the wear of bearing parts and for the permanent deformation of the spacing elements.

The several sections of the rolls are assembled on their shafts in such a manner that the ribs on one of the roll sections |64 will be substantially in line with corresponding ribs on the other of such roll sections as they pass a point between the rolls, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the longitudinal ribs on one of the trash roll sections 161, 102 and the trash roll sections 116, 104 will be out of alinement with the corresponding ribs on the other of such trash roll sections as they rotate past a point at the opposed side of the rolis, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, respectively.

One or both of the snapping roll sections 164 are provided adjacent the rear end thereof with one or more detachable snapping clips 206 extending radially outward slightly beyond the periphery of the ribs 165. The clips 206 are attached in longitudinally adjustable position on the rolls through screw bolts 201 passing through elongated apertures in a base portion 208 of the clip. The active portion of the clip is positioned slightly rearwardly of the lagging edge of the rib 165 on the roll at a point where the clip will just clear or pass by the adjacent rib on the opposite roll without interference during rotation of the rolls, these clips during such operation serving to shear or out any ear stems that are not snapped off.

A gathering chain 241 has its active irght positioned above the picking and husking sections of the two cooperative rolls 156, 151, and in its` rearward travel assists in imparting a relatively rearward movement to the corn Istalks as the harvester travels forwardly; and after removal of the ears from the stalks, the chain conveys the ears rearwardly over trash sections 161, 168 and over` husking sections 112, 183. The course of this chain is in part determined by guides 243, 244 suitably mounted in position between a lower plate 245 and an upper plate, by means of bolts 250.

In operation, as the harvester moves forwardly through a field of standing corn the stalks come under the influence of the gathering chain 241 and pass between the picker sections of the cooperative harvester rolls. As the stalks move rearward relative to the snapping sections of the rolls, the bearing of the outer roll 156 yields sulciently to accommodate the stalks between the rolls as the rear portion of the snapping section removes the ears from the stalks.

Rearward movement of the upper part of the stalks relative to the rolls is limited by the stalks engaging with support 34 and the bearing housings |96 therein. Loose stalk leaves or other trash Vcarried beyondthe snapping rollV sections is seized by and carried through the trash roll sections |67. The picked ears are conveyed by the flights of the chain 24| over and along the rolls in contact with the husking sections thereof. Loose husks remaining from the hus'king operation are seized by and passed through the rear trash roll sections |84, the conveying' chain carrying the husked ears rearwardly beyond'the husking sections to a point of'collection (not shown).

YAny loose leaves broken from the stal-ks or husks removed from the vears during the snapping `operation pass rearwardly onto the trash removing sections |61, l 68 ofthe rolls, the latter serving to. seize and forcethis loose material downwardly through these rolls, to 'the end that the ears of Icornr passing rearwardly to the husking roll sections are substantially free lfrom loose material or trash. The ears passing over the huskingV roll sections lare subjected to the action o-f the husking points |9| which bite into the outer husks and serve to loosen or `tear portions `of the husks so that they are more readily seized between the rubber surfaced roll |12 and the oppositely rotating v-metal faced roll |83. And since these husked portions are gripped and held solidly, the husks are entirely torn from the ear, the latter remaining at the upper surface of the rolls, and the husks being dragged through to the under side of the rolls. Any loose husks or other material accompanying lthe husked ears is seized by and drawn downwardly between trash roll sections |16 and |18, the clean husked ears being discharged rearwardly ofV the harvester rolls.

It should .be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular details vof construction and design shown and described herein and that the invention includes such other applications vand modifications as lare fairly included within the scope of the ,annexed claims.

It is claimed and desired to .secure by Letters Patent:

1. In 4a corn harvester, a supporting frame cariying a pair of cooperative harvesting rolls having side-opposed husking sections, one of said husking sections having van outer surface portion .of resiliently yieldable material,y and the other of ,said husking .sections comprising `a tube supported on a shaft and spaced therefrom, said vtube' having spaced apertures therethrough, husking elements yieldingly and detachably mounted within said tube Aand having husking points normally projecting through said apertures for swinging movement about a point .spaced .circumferentially from vthe latter, said husking point being yieldingly movable into said other section through the action thereon of said one roll section, each of said husking elements being in the form of a resilient leaf spring .having its Ybody portion detachablys-upported in `posi-tion within said roll section with the husking point projecting through said aperture, and a securing elementfor said -husking element in the form of a leaf spring removably supported in position within said tube by said roll shaft and engaging `with said husking element .to clamp the husking element against the inner surface of said tube.

2. A corn harvester ear snapping and husking apparatus comprising a supporting frame, and a rpair of forwardly extending' rolls rotatably mounted on said frame in cooperative side opposed relation, said rolls presenting forward picker sections including a pair of .forwardly ,ex-

tending tapered points joined to rearwardly extending longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are in substantial alignment with the corresponding ribs Ion the other roll'as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, trash sections to the rear of and aligned with Athe picker section and including a pair of longitudinally rib-bed portions .wherein the ribs of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of the 'other roll as the ribs passa point at the opposed sides of the rolls, Iand presenting huski'ng section'sto the rear of and in alignment with said trash sections and including a pair of'smooth surfaced portions with `the opposed sides thereof in vcontact.v

3. A corn harvester ear snapping and husking apparatus comprising a supporting framgand a pair of `forwardly extending rolls rotatably mounted on said frame in cooperative side opposed relation, said rolls presenting forward picker sections including a pair of forwardly Yextending tapered points joined to rearwardly extending longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of `one roll are in substantial' alignment with the corresponding ribs on the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, trash sections including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions to the rear of and aligned with the picker section and wherein the ribs -of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of the other roll as the ribs pass a point at the opposed sides of the rolls, husking sections to the rear of and inalignment with said trash section and `including a pair of smooth surfaced portions with the opposed sides thereof in contact, and presenting additional trash sections similar in construtionto said first mentioned trash sections and positioned to the rear of and in alignment with said. husking sections.

4. In a corn harvester, a Supporting frame, ya pair of forwardly extending cooperative rotatable harvester rolls, said rolls presenting in cooperative side opposed relation forward picker sections including a pair of forwardly tapered points joined to rearwardly extending longitudinally ribbed port-ions wherein the ribs `of one roll are in substantial alignment with the ribs o n the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, Ytrash sections to the rear of and aligned with said picker sections and including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one. roll are out of alignment with the ribs vof `the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, and presenting husking sections to the rear oifand in alignment with said trash section `and including a pair of smooth surfaced portions with the .opposed sides thereof contacting each other, rear bearings carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rollsdisposed to the rear of said husking sections, land forward bearingsl carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed .between said picking and said trash sections. i

5. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative rotatable harvester rolls, said rolls presenting in cooperative side opposed relation forward picker sections including a pair of forwardly taperedl points 'joined to rearwardly extending' lor'igitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll Nare in substantial alignment with the ribs on the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the'rolls, trash sections to the rear of and aligned'with said picker sections and including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of ,the

other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, husking sections to the rear of and in alignment with said trash sections and including a pair of smooth surfaced portions with the opposed lsides thereof contacting each other, and presenting additional trash sections similar in construction to said first mentioned trash sections and disposed to the rear of and aligned with said husking sections, rear bearings carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed to the rear of said trash sections and forward bearings carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed between said picking and said first mentioned trash sections.

6. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative rotatable harvester rolls, said rolls presenting in cooperative side opposed relation forward picker sections including a pair of forwardly tapered points joined to rearwardly extending longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are in substantial alignment with the ribs on the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, trash sections to the rear of and aligned. with said picker sections and including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, husking sections to the rear of and in alignment with said trash sections and including a pair of smooth surfaced portions with the opposed sides thereof contacting each other,- and presenting additional trash sections similar in construction to said first mentioned trash sections and disposed to the rear of and aligned with said husking sections, rear bearings carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed to the rear of said trash sections and forward bearings yieldably carried vby said frame for relative lateral movement and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed between said picking and said first mentioned trash sections, and said rolls including portions adjacent said forward bearings presenting opposed cylindrical outer surfaces each having a diameter equal to the maximum external diameter of the remaining portions of said rolls and to the maximum external diameter of said forward bearing.

7. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a

Y pair of forwardly extending cooperative rotatable harvester rolls. said rolls presenting in cooperative side opposed relation forward picker sections including a pair of forwardly tapered points joined to rearwardly extending longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are in substantial alignment with the ribs on the other roll as the ribs pass apoint between the rolls, trash sections to the rear of and aligned *with said picker sections and including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, and presenting husking sections to the rear of and in alignment with said trash sections and including a pair of smooth surfaced portions with the opposed sides thereof contacting each other with one of said portions having an outer surface of resiliently yieldable material and the other portion being in the form of a smooth metal tube, iixedly mounted rear bearings carried by said frame and rotatably supporting portions of said rolls disposed to the rear of said husking sections, a hollow bearing support carried by said frame and surrounding a portion of said rolls between said snapping sections and said trash sections, bearings carried-by said support and mounting said rolls for relative lateral movement, and means carried by said support yieldingly urging the outer one of said rolls toward the inner one, and said rolls also presenting portions adjacent said hollow support including opposed cylindrical outer surfaces each having a diameter at least equal to the maximum external diameter of the remaining portions of said rolls and to the maximum external diameter of said relatively movable bearing parts, whereby said cylindrical portions determine the minimum spacing of said rolls.

8. A corn harvester ear snapping and husking apparatus comprising a supporting frame, anda pair of forwardly extending rolls rotatably mounted on said frame in cooperative side opposed relation with the forward portions of said rolls supported by means yieldably acting to eiect a side abutting engagement of said rolls, said rolls presenting forward picker sections including longitudinally ribbed portions whereinV the ribs of one roll are in substantial alignment with the corresponding ribs on the other roll as the ribs pass a point between the rolls, trash sections to the rear of and aligned with the picker sections and including a pair of longitudinally ribbed portions wherein the ribs of one roll are out of alignment with the ribs of the other rolls as the ribs pass a point at the opposed sides of the rolls, husking sections to the rear of and in alignment with said trash sections, and presenting opposed cylindrical portions disposed intermediate said picking and trash sections and each having an external diameter at least equal to the maximum external diameter of the remaining portions of said rolls.

9. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame carrying a pair of cooperative harvesting rolls having side-opposed husking sections, one of said husking sections comprising a tube supported on a shaft in spaced relation thereto and having an aperture therein, a husking element presenting a body portion detachably mounted within said one section and presenting a husking point normally projecting through said aperture, and a resilient element, for clamping the body portion of said husking element against an inner portion of said one section and affording swinging movement of said husking point about a longitudinally extending axis passing through a point positioned in circumferentially spaced proximate relation to said aperture, said resilient element being removably supported within said tube by said roll shaft, said husking point being swingably movable inwardly about said axis through said aperture by the action thereon of said other roll section.

10. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame carrying a pair of cooperative harvesting rolls having side-opposed husking sections, one of said husking sections comprising a tube supported on a shaft in spaced relation thereto and having an aperture therein, a husking element yieldingly and detachably mounted within said tube and having a husk engaging portion `normally projecting through said aperture and yieldingly movable thereinto through the action thereon of the other roll section, said husking element having its body portion detachably supported in position within said roll section with the husk engaging portion thereof projecting through said aperture for swinging movement about a point proximate to and circumferentially spaced from said aperture, and a securing element for said husking element in the form of a leaf spring removably supported in position within said tube by said roll shaft and engaging with said husking element to clamp the husking element against an inner surface of said tube.

RECTOR C. FERGASON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Curtiss June 2, 1896 Swarthout Nov. 21, 1899 Hagen Mar. 3, 1903 Steel May 26, 1903 Johnston June 2a, 1904 15 GOOdhue Dec. 25, 1906 Number 

